By embracing an employee-owned model, we hope to foster a culture of shared responsibility, collaboration, and long-term success, where each employee has a direct stake in the company’s performance and decision-making.

This follows on from the exciting news that High Speed Training has achieved B Corp certification, an accreditation from the global non-profit B Lab, which ensures that a business meets high standards of social and environmental impact, focusing on a company’s approach to its governance, customers, environment and communities. 

For more information on High Speed Training’s commitment to its people, planet and communities, please visit: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/about-us/force-for-good

What to Read Next:

• What is a B Corp?
• Case Study: Supporting the Next Step to Employment with the Parchment Trust
• High Speed Training Courses

The post High Speed Training Becomes an Employee Owned Trust appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

But what exactly does this mean, and how does a company achieve the certification?

B Corp Certification is administered by a global not-for-profit called B Lab. Since 2006, over 6,000 businesses worldwide have been B Corp certified, with over 1600 in the UK.

This means that the company meets B Lab’s high standards for social and environmental impact, showing dedication to caring for their staff, their communities, their stakeholders, and the planet.

High Speed Training has been verified by B Corp following a wide-ranging assessment of their working practices, including their approaches to staff wellbeing, impact on wider communities, customer satisfaction and environmental impacts. You can learn about High Speed Training’s Force for Good work here.

Companies are scored on 5 categories. The score needed to achieve certification is 80 points. 

• Governance evaluates a company’s overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. 
• Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement & satisfaction.
• Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, and hires from, including D&I practices and charitable giving.
• Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. 
• Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels.

When assessed on these categories, High Speed Training achieved a score of 100.5, scoring particularly highly on our dedication to supporting our staff and our customers.

Discover our full B Corp Impact score here and watch our video below to learn more about how we got here:

What to Read Next:

• Case Study: Supporting the Next Step to Employment with the Parchment Trust
• How to Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• About High Speed Training: Force for Good

The post What is a B Corp? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Paul Stewart is an English former professional footballer who played top-division football for Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool. He is also a safeguarding advocate who provides safeguarding training for organisations such as the English Football League (EFL), using his own experience as an example – Paul was abused by his coach for four years up to the age of 15.

Abuse in grassroots sports is a topic which is very much in the spotlight, following many high profile sports players such as Paul revealing their own experiences of mistreatment in their club as a child. Paul worked with our in-house experts to create the only survivor-led safeguarding course aimed at sports clubs.

As part of our commitment to be a force for good, and to ensure that as many people as possible could access this vital knowledge, we have made this course free to all grassroots sports clubs in the UK. To date, the free course has been taken over 2,300 times.

Backed by sporting figures such as Gary Lineker, rugby league giant Kevin Sinfield, former England and British Lions great Brian Moore, Olympic medalist Marilyn Okoro and Ryder Cup golfer Ian Poulter, the course provides sports coaches, parents and volunteers with the tools to be able to confidently identify and prevent abusive behaviours in grassroots sports, as well as understanding and implementing the recommended safeguarding procedures.

Paul, who scored for Tottenham in the 1991 FA Cup Final, has been open about his own experiences of abuse in sports as a child and was one of the first players to come forward in 2016 with details of historical abuse at the hands of a youth team coach. 

Paul Stewart said: “I am delighted that, by working with High Speed Training, I have been able to produce a survivor-led safeguarding course that I absolutely believe can make a difference.

The support we have received has been incredible and I will be forever grateful to the people and organisations involved. It is an emotional subject, both for me and for others who have been affected. I am sure the course will have a lasting impact on those who take it.

Everyone involved in all sports and physical activity settings with children and young people should have an awareness of these issues. We all know the benefits of playing sports for young people, and making sure that our children are safe whilst enjoying sports has to be the number one priority.

Now the course is free to grassroots clubs, it is my hope that all adults will take the course and share what they have learned.”

Alexandra Richards, Head of Safeguarding at the English Football League, said: “The EFL are delighted to support this Safeguarding in Sport course and it is great to see the free initiative being made available to other organisations. We made the training available to all of our 72 member Clubs because it is unique in the fact that it is survivor-led and covers all the essentials needed for any role on the basics of safeguarding. 

The work Paul is doing with High Speed Training to ensure all children are safe at their clubs is outstanding and we will continue to support the wonderful work they are doing.”

Tajean Hutton, Grassroots Manager at Kick It Out says: “This is a great course, which we are proud to support at Kick It Out. We hear of several abuse related cases in grassroots sport every year, which is why courses like this are important to help educate those working at clubs, so they can better support young people and participants. 

The more we can do to identify and prevent abuse at a grassroots level, the more inclusive and inviting sport will become.”

To learn more about the free Safeguarding in Sport course, click here.

Further Resources:

• Guide to Safeguarding Children in Sport
• How to Become a Sports Coach
• Safeguarding in Sport Course

The post Case Study: Safeguarding in Sport appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

As part of their commitment to be a force for good and assist people into employment, High Speed Training have donated a number of courses to two charities that work with people with autism and learning difficulties: REACCH South West CIC and The Parchment Trust.

The REACCH Project South West CIC

The REACCH Project South West CIC (Real Employability for people with Autism and Communication CHallenges) is a project based in Cornwall that works with adults and young people with autism and other learning difficulties.

The REACCH project caters for people in their late-teens to their late 30s, and Joe now works with a number of the attendees, sharing his skills with computers and photography. High Speed Training supplied REACCH with 26 courses to assist in the training of their staff and attendees, and help to develop their members’ employability skills.

Joe has taken a range of courses from High Speed Training, including Workplace First Aid, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, and Autism Awareness, which have allowed him to flourish in his role working at the centre. 

One of the key aims of High Speed Training’s community strategy is to help people into long term employment, and Joe feels that this first role has been a hugely important step in his career.

High Speed Training are donating a number of further courses to continue to support Joe’s career development, including Mental Health Awareness, Child Bereavement, and Challenging Behaviour training.

Mary Pittman, who is a Founder and Director of The REACCH Project South West CIC said that High Speed Training courses have been incredibly important in supporting Joe and the work of the project generally.

Parchment Trust

High Speed Training supplied a batch of Level 2 Food Hygiene courses to the Parchment Trust, a charity serving people with Autism, learning and physical disabilities based on the South East coast.

The charity runs a number of services, including a horticultural nursery which is open to the public and run by the members it supports, education and leisure services and a supported employment scheme.

The employment scheme aims to secure paid employment for their members in local businesses. A popular vocational route among their members is employment in the catering trade. 

In October 2022, Jack, aged 34, completed his L2 Food Hygiene course. Shortly after, he was able to start a paid placement at a local care home, working 6 hours a week in a pop up coffee shop in the garden, serving residents tea, coffee and cake.

Jack really blossomed in the role, and before long, he was asking to take on more responsibility, and showed a desire to work in the main kitchen at the care home.

Jack’s hours were increased to 18 hours a week, and he began to work in the main kitchen, preparing meals for the residents. 

Now, Jack is working 24 hours a week at the home, and no longer requires the support of the Parchment Trust.

High Speed Training has also supplied the Parchment Trust with a Care Certificate course to assist Jack on his career path at the home.

Further Resources:

• Paediatric First Aid Training in Practice – Saving a Child’s Life
• How to Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Online Training Courses

The post Case Study: Supporting People into Employment at The REACCH Project and Parchment Trust appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

The charity runs a number of services, including a horticultural nursery which is open to the public and run by the members it supports, education and leisure services and a supported employment scheme.

The employment scheme aims to secure paid employment for their members in local businesses. A popular vocational route among their members is employment in the catering trade. As part of our commitment to help people from underserved communities to access work, we provided a number of Level 2 Food Hygiene Courses to help their members learn new skills and take that next step into employment.

In October 2022, Jack, aged 34, completed his L2 Food Hygiene course, shortly after, he was able to start a paid placement at a local care home, working 6 hours a week in a pop up coffee shop in the garden, serving residents tea, coffee and cake.

Jack really blossomed in the role, and before long, he was asking to take on more responsibility, and showed a desire to work in the main kitchen at the care home.

Jack’s hours were increased to 18 hours a week, and he began to work in the main kitchen, preparing meals for the residents. 

Now, Jack is working 24 hours a week at the home, and no longer requires the support of the Parchment Trust.

High Speed Training has also supplied the Parchment Trust with a Care Certificate course to assist Jack on his career path at the home.

To find out more about the Parchment Trust and their vital work, you can visit their website at https://www.parchment-trust.org.uk/.

Further Resources:

• Paediatric First Aid Training in Practice – Saving a Child’s Life
• Care Certificate Course
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Courses

The post Case Study: Supporting the Next Step to Employment with the Parchment Trust appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Whilst there’s no official regulation around posting images of your own children online, there are ways to ensure that you’re doing it in the safest way possible – read on to discover our top tips for using social media as a parent, or guardian, in 2023. 

Why is Safeguarding Children Online So Important? 

The internet and social media are amazing tools which have created many jobs, made our lives much easier, and enabled people to keep in touch during times of hardship. There are, however, darker sides to these tools, which is why it’s so important to put safeguarding measures in place when it comes to social media use. 

These days, children are taught about safe internet use as part of the school curriculum from primary right through to high school. This proves to be a  positive introduction over the last couple of years, ensuring that children understand what they should and shouldn’t share online, and the risks that come with using social media. One of the key topics which children are taught is around how data is shared and used online – but do parents, who may not have undertaken such classes, understand the potential outcomes of sharing sensitive and personal information online?

What Does our Research Show?

To find out just how many share images, along with other information about their children on their social media profiles, our safeguarding experts asked more than 2,000 UK parents and grandparents a series of questions on the topic, and Dr Richard Anderson, head of learning and development shares his thoughts on the results: 

The research revealed that 45% of parents and grandparents never post pictures of their children (/grandchildren) online, whilst nearly one in ten (9%) post, but choose to obscure the child’s face, and hide their identity. On the other hand, 40% do post images of the children online without hiding their face.

The majority of those that are happy to share the images without hiding the child’s face have a private social media profile (59%), and, interestingly, 17% are worried that posting images of their children/grandchildren online will put them at risk.

Promisingly, of the 2,014 surveyed, only 12% have a public social media profile.

Richard comments: “If you want to post an image of your child or grandchild online, the safest way to do so would be on a private account, which is only accessible to people you know well and trust to have the image/information associated with your child at the click of a button. Public accounts can be viewed by anyone, and whilst it might seem unlikely that your images and information might fall into the wrong hands, you simply never know who’s looking, so it’s much safer to keep it to a tight knit group that you know personally, and trust completely.“

Of the information they’re willing to share about their children online, whilst nearly half (45%) admitted that they wouldn’t be happy revealing any of the following on the internet…

• Nearly a third (31%) would share the child’s age 
• Almost a third (31%) would share their name
• One in 10 (10%) would share their school / images of their school uniform
• 5% would share medical information

When it comes to the parents who share their children online, 55% will also share their name, 46% will share their age, and 16% would be happy to share their school. 

Of the parents and grandparents with a public profile, less than one in five (17%) would be happy to share their child’s school, however more than a third (35%) would share their name and age. 

Richard adds: “It’s definitely promising to see that so few of the parents and grandparents, especially considering those that do post images of children online, use public profiles. However, with information such as schools/school uniforms, we would recommend keeping this withheld even on private profiles. 

Nowadays parents often share cute snaps of their children on their first day of school, or their yearly school photographs, which is understandable, however it would be recommended that you remove the school badge from their uniform to ensure their school is not identifiable. You can do this with an emoji, a sticker or by scribbling over the logo using your camera app.“

The Issue of Consent

Another argument in the debate surrounding whether or not to post children online is consent. Should parents ask for their children’s consent before sharing images of them? According to YouGov Profiles, a quarter of parents with a child aged 16 or under (26%) believe that consent should be requested before posting an image of a child, whilst 58% disagree, stating that they should be able to post without asking permission. 

Real Parents Weigh In

What each parent is comfortable with sharing about their children on social media varies from family to family. Some parents, like Hester Grainger, co-founder of Perfectly Autistic, share some information about their personal situation, whilst taking steps to conceal the identity of the children and respect their privacy. 

Hester says: “We are a husband and wife team that run Perfectly Autistic, a neurodiversity consultancy and Facebook community.  We sometimes share stories about being a neurodivergent family on social media; my husband and children are all autistic and we are all diagnosed with ADHD. If I do use a photo of the children to go with the post, it’s always from the back or where they can’t be identified. 

I am very aware that I don’t want our children having a large digital footprint before they are even old enough to have their own social media accounts.  

Even when I post on my private Facebook profile, I ask permission from my children. I check they are ok with me doing so and if they are happy with the photo. If they aren’t, I won’t post. 

Everyone is entitled to their own views when it comes to whether or not they feel comfortable posting photos of their children, it’s down to each parent and family, with what works for them.”

Armani, mum of a three- year-old, shares: 

“I’ve shared photos of my child on social media less than a handful of times in the three years he’s been here. I don’t share photos of his face, in the past I’ve uploaded pictures of the back of his head. My family members also know not to share images either, and I’ll opt for sending updates in private messages or family group chats instead of uploading to my social channels. 

Working in digital, I know how little control we have over things we share online, there’s absolutely nothing stopping people screenshotting or sharing images, and when your child is the most precious thing to you, it’s important we think about approaches to their digital safety. I always say, “I wouldn’t print 1,000 pictures of my child and leave them at Heathrow airport for anyone in the world to take and do what they please with, and it’s the same thing with sharing images online.”

Carl MacDonald, Blogger at PremDad shares: 

“I have two social presences; a private personal one, and an open one that promotes my blog. My twin sons were born premature and I now blog about the experience, so on those profiles I only share photos of them with their faces obscured or not visible. That’s just because I respect their right to privacy and of course I don’t personally know all of my followers.

I do post them on my private profiles because they’re only visible to people I’ve explicitly allowed and whom I trust, so I believe there’s less of a risk to their privacy.”

So, what are the some key takeaways on how to keep yourselves, and your children, safe online?

1. Keep it private

If you do want to share images or information about your children online, the safest way to do so is using a private account. If your online circle is a small group of people that you know and trust in real life, there should be no concern that your images or information will end up somewhere you’d be uncomfortable with. 

2. Think twice about sharing personal information

Avoid sharing personal information such as your child’s school. Also any other personal information such as your house number, your car registration plate etc. When people move house, or especially when buying a house for the first time, you see a lot of images of them standing outside the house holding the keys. Again, similarly to the school, giving away this type of information could potentially be dangerous. 

“Whilst it may seem extreme, again, you simply don’t know who’s looking at the information you’re sharing, and what their intentions are. For example, take Kim Kardashian – whilst of course Kim has a huge public following and therefore the circumstances are pretty unique, after her horrific ordeal in Paris, the robbers claimed that they used Kim’s social media to understand where she was, and what they could steal from her.” 

3. Ask for the child’s consent

If your child is old enough to understand, we would also recommend asking their consent before posting online. If your child is too young to provide consent, then consider whether it may be best to be cautious with the information you share before they are able to give permission. Is it something they might be unhappy with being online when they’re older? If so, it might be best to refrain from sharing online. Also, if your child says they’re happy but then years later decides they don’t want those images online, you should respect their wishes and privacy and delete them.

It’s important to have open communication with your children on these topics, ensure they understand the potential risks of posting on social media, ask what they’ve been learning about the topic at school and ensure that they feel comfortable having a conversation about it with you. Having these conversations from a young age will also encourage your child to have a healthy relationship with social media as they get older and potentially create their own accounts.

4. Never share other people’s children (without consent)

If you’re a parent of school-aged children, you’ll likely have been asked by teachers to not share images and videos of events such as assemblies and nativity shows online. Unless you have the consent of the parents of every child in your photo/video, you shouldn’t be posting them on social media.

5. Take a safeguarding online course

If you’re keen to understand more about safeguarding children online, you can take our online safety and harms course. It’s important as a parent to understand not only your own position on social media, but when your child is of an age where they might begin exploring social media themselves, keeping on top of trends, understanding the pressure children face online and having open and honest discussions with them is key to ensuring they are staying safe.

Dr Anderson adds: “Whilst the government continues working on the long-awaited Online Safety Bill, it will be interesting to see how conversations on the topic develop. As online safeguarding experts, we’re backing the bill and are keen to see it pushed through parliament, to ensure that safeguarding children is the top priority when it comes to social media use.”

Further Resources:

• A Guide to Emojis and Texting Abbreviations
• How to Teach Children About Healthy Relationships
• Parents’ Guide to Twitter
• How to Respond to Dangerous Online Challenges: Guidance for Schools
• Online Safety & Harms Course

The post Sharenting: Your Guide to Safeguarding Your Children Online appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

We are High Speed Training, and since 2008, we’ve supported over 2 million learners to achieve their personal and professional goals in the workplace and beyond.

Fire safety is a topic that, sadly, is rarely off the agenda. The fire services in England, Scotland and Wales attend more than 600,000 incidents each year, tragically resulting in around 300 fatalities, if not more. ^[1] 

Many of these incidents occur in the home. In fact, 20 people are injured or killed every day just by accidental fires that start in their kitchens. ^[2]

Fire services across the country recommend a number of simple and practical steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your home, and also decrease the chances of being injured in a fire should one occur.

We wanted to explore some of these potentially life-saving pieces of advice, and seek to understand how the public could better protect themselves, their homes, and their families. 

We undertook a survey of over 2000 UK adults to find out how often this advice is being put into practice by the public, and identify any areas that could be improved to make our homes safer.

1. Smoke Alarm Testing

Smoke alarms are perhaps one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. They are designed to give you that vital early warning needed to help you escape your property and call the emergency services in good time. 

Interestingly, they were an accidental invention during the late 1930s by a Swiss physicist named Walter Jaeger. After originally attempting to design a sensor that could identify poisonous gas, he lit a cigarette and discovered that his design could instead detect smoke particles. Since then, smoke alarms have become a staple in countless households and workplaces. 

However, this creation was very expensive at first, preventing them from being used commercially until 1965. Stanley Bennett Peterson and Duane Pearsall then transformed the invention into a home smoke detector – cheap enough to be installed in most homes and allowing it to become widely used by the 1970s.

Did you know that nowadays there are four main types of smoke alarms? 

1. Ionisation – one of the most common types of smoke alarms.
2. Optical alarms (photoelectric) – also one of the most commonly used types.
3. Heat alarms, which are not sensitive to smoke.
4. Combined alarms, such as combined optical smoke and heat.

In a recent survey of over 2000 UK adults, we found that only 5% do not have a smoke alarm in their homes. Without one, you are 8 times more likely to die in a fire. 

Whilst owning a smoke alarm takes you one step closer to remaining safe in the event of a fire, they do still have to be tested regularly. It is recommended that you test your smoke alarms every week. ^[3]

Surprisingly, most individuals (96%) are not testing regularly enough, with 85% testing less than once a month and 12% never testing at all. In addition to this, we learnt that many (17%) of the younger generation (18-34s) do not test either. Whereas, those over 55 are far more likely to test once a month.

These results suggest that the younger generation needs more awareness on the importance of smoke alarms in fire safety. 

Testing your smoke alarms weekly and carrying out routine maintenance, such as removing debris and checking the batteries, is the easiest way to make sure your home is protected. Smoke alarms degrade over time and generally have a life span of around 10 years. You should check manufactures information for the exact lifespan of your devices and look to change them when required.

2. Smoke Alarm Placement

Fires can start for a number of different reasons. Around half of home fires are caused by cooking incidents, with 3 fires a day starting from heaters, and 2 from candles. But that’s not all: around 4,000 home fires originate from faulty appliances. These can happen in any room of your home, which is why smoke alarm placement could be key to your safety.     

So, where does your smoke alarm live? Good smoke alarm positioning is crucial in order to ensure effective detection in the event of a fire. However, we found that only 84% of those we surveyed have one on every level, dropping to 70% among those aged 18-24 years old.

In private rented and social rented homes, it is the duty of the landlord to ensure a suitable number of smoke alarms are installed and functional at the beginning of the tenancy. As set out by the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations, they must ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. They must also address any issues if reported by tenants. 

In privately owned homes, it is down to the owner to arrange for their own smoke alarms to be fitted. They can either fit the alarms themselves or arrange for a qualified person to come and install them.

There are no specific legal requirements regarding the positioning of smoke alarms, though it states that one should be on every storey, as mentioned earlier. This also means that there is no legally required quantity, as this depends on the size of the property. 

However, there is some general advice that can be followed by those responsible for installing fire alarms, to maximise cover and therefore safety. Since fires can start anywhere, the more that are fitted, the higher the level of protection. 

For example, a smoke alarm in every room of the house would provide maximum protection, while minimum protection would be a smoke alarm on each floor of the house. The only exception to this is bathrooms. Smoke alarms should be avoided in bathrooms as they may become susceptible to unwanted tripping from the steam.

Other places to avoid or take extra care when placing smoke alarms include:

• Corners of the ceiling. 
• Close to fans. 
• Sloping ceilings.

In contrast, the best places to fit smoke alarms are:

• Kitchens.
• Landings.
• Bedrooms.
• Ceiling beams.

Every home is unique, meaning the number of smoke alarms needed depends hugely on the home’s layout. Generally, fitting detectors to the centre of the ceiling either via screws or specialist sticky pads is the way to go – as long as they are at least 30cm away from any wall, light fitting, or obstruction. ^[4]

If the home has one level, the most efficient place to install smoke alarms is in the hallway between the living and sleeping areas. Furthermore, having a detector 3m away from every bedroom door helps to ensure audibility. If smoke detectors are in an area where they can be heard, they will be more effective in the event of a fire.

3. Escape Plan

Your chances of surviving a fire within your home depend heavily on advance planning. In the smoky and scary environment of a fire in the home, it can be easy to panic and become disorientated. Therefore, it’s recommended to have a thorough pre-planned escape route from your house, by which you and others can safely exit the property. But what makes a good escape plan? 

The main key to a good fire escape plan is to include alternate routes to safety in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use. The shortest, most direct way out is always best, but the more ways you identify to exit each room of your house, the more chance you have of escaping a fire. Secondly, the more frequently you practise your escape plan, the easier it will be to put it into action when needed. 

eScooters, eBikes or any large Li-ion batteries should not be charged or stored on escape routes or at the base of stairs. Should these items start a fire the escape route and stairs would become immediately filled with smoke.

Despite the importance of having a fire escape plan prepared, in a survey of over 2000 adults we found that the majority (55%) don’t have a plan. Additionally, it seems to be younger generations that are the least prepared, with 68% of 18-24 year olds saying they don’t have or don’t know if they have a plan. In contrast, 45-55 year olds are most likely to have a plan, with 51% stating they have an escape route prepared.

These results suggest that more people, particularly those of a younger age, need more awareness on the importance of having a fire escape plan. One example of an influential adult raising awareness successfully is Myleene Klass, who recently shared a TikTok video with over 450k views of her and her young children doing a monthly fire drill in their London home. In the video, the children are blindfolded and made to crawl around the house on all fours to practise different escape routes. 

Klass’s video helps spread awareness of what a good fire escape plan involves, and also encourages families to discuss and practise pre-arranged fire safety procedures, including various escape routes. 

Do you have your fire escape routes planned yet? If not, start thinking about the floor plan of your home and possible ways out of each room. You never know when it might prove to be a life-saving precaution.

4. Amperage and Voltage

Faulty electrics, including appliances, wiring, and overloaded sockets, cause around 4,000 house fires in England every year. ^[5] Overloaded extension leads are a frequent culprit of fires, as it’s often unknown that it’s not always safe to fill all the sockets supplied on the cable. A socket can become overloaded if you plug in appliances that together will exceed the maximum current rating stated for the extension lead. This could result in the plug in the wall socket overheating and causing a fire.

One way to avoid this happening in your home is to check the maximum voltage and amperage levels for all sockets and extension leads, to ensure you don’t overload them. But how many people actually know how to do this?

In our survey of over 2000 people, a worrying 77% stated they don’t know how to check either the voltage or the amperage levels of a socket, and between the ages of 18-24, only 16% said they knew how to find this information. For people over 45, this percentage increased to 27%, but this is still an alarmingly small percentage for such an important skill.

Data from Zurich Insurance showed blazes sparked by electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries, such as eScooters or eBikes, had risen by 149% from 67 in 2020 to 167 in 2022. ^[6] Li-ion battery fires can start for a number of reasons and usually start spontaneously. Damage to the battery, faulty chargers and attempting to charge immediately after use when the battery cell is still hot are all factors which can increase the likelihood of fire. Where possible, store these items outside or in a garage. Failing this, store in a room which has smoke detection and a door which closes off the escape route.

So, how do you check that a socket is not overloaded? The maximum current allowed to safely flow through the socket (power rating) should be clearly marked on the back or underside of the extension lead. If not, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

To find out if your socket is overloaded, simply calculate the sum of the amperages marked on the back of each appliance plugged in and check it doesn’t exceed the power rating of the socket. A guide to power ratings of commonly used household appliances can be found here. You can also use this socket calculator to see if you are overloading your sockets.

There are a number of warning signs you can look out for which suggest a socket may be at risk of causing a fire. These include:

• A burning plastic smell near an appliance or socket.
• Sparks or smoke coming from a plug or appliance.
• Black or scorch marks around a socket, plug, or appliance.
• Damaged or frayed leads.
• Melted plastic on appliance casings or leads.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions and ensuring you’re not overloading sockets and extension leads will ensure you reduce the risk of electrical fires starting in your home.

5. Night Time Routine

Over half of all deaths caused by fires in the home happen between 10pm and 8am. ^[7] A fire occurring at night can be more dangerous, as you will likely respond much slower than you would while awake and therefore have less time to escape. Working smoke alarms are essential to ensuring you are alerted quickly, but there are some other simple things you can do to reduce the risks.

Because of an increase in synthetic materials and furniture, fires can spread incredibly quickly. According to Closeyourdoor.org, the average time you would have to escape a fire 40 years ago was 17 minutes. Today, it is only three minutes. 

Closing all of the internal doors in your home is one way to increase your chances of being able to escape from a house fire. However, in our survey, we found that 66% of people don’t close their internal doors every night. If a fire breaks out in one room of your home, a closed door can hold back fire and smoke, and buy you precious time to escape.

As discussed earlier, electrical appliances are one of the leading causes of fires in homes in the UK. By switching off unnecessary appliances overnight, you reduce the risk of a fire breaking out whilst you sleep. Dishwashers and washing machines pose a fire risk due to their high wattage, friction and motors, so it is recommended to not run these machines overnight.

Another simple step to add to your routine is to make sure that your exit route is clear of trip hazards. In the disorientating smoke of a house fire, objects on the floor could pose a real risk. This could be wires, shoes, bags – anything that you could potentially trip over should be cleared away to allow you to exit your home in a prompt and safe manner. Our survey found that a huge 71% of respondents don’t clear their exit routes every night.

In an emergency situation, it’s crucial to know the right steps to take to be able to exit a building safely. We’ve already discussed an escape plan, but one of the most important aspects of this is knowing exactly where the keys to your exit doors are. They ideally should be in a memorable place that you will be able to easily and safely access. In our survey, we found that 43% of people don’t always leave their keys to hand, potentially creating a scenario in which they are not able to safely exit their property in the event of a fire.

Though there will always be a risk of fires breaking out in the home, there are a number of practical steps you can take to reduce the chances of a fire occurring, and to mitigate the risk of sustaining serious injuries in the event of an emergency.

Our research shows that many of these potentially life-saving steps are not being carried out by members of the British public, leaving them at greater risk of suffering serious injuries in a domestic fire. 

However, it also presents an opportunity to raise awareness of what can be done to improve fire safety across the country.

If you would like to learn more about what you can do to improve the fire safety of your home, visit the website of your local fire service for simple and free advice. Many services also offer a free home visit to assess your property and offer suggestions on making sure your home is as safe as it can be.

Methodology

All survey figures are from YouGov Plc. Survey commissioned by High Speed Training. Total sample size was 2042 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken in July 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representatives of all GB adults (18+).

References

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables#fatalities-and-casualties

[2] https://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/safety/chip-pans-deep-fat-fryers#:~:text=There%27s%20nothing%20quite%20like%20the,caused%20by%20deep%20fat%20fryers

[3] https://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/safety/smoke-alarms

[4] https://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/home-safety/smoke-alarms/

[5] https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-your-home-safe-from-fire/fire-safety-in-the-home-accessible-version%23&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1667495672296109&usg=AOvVaw0F2kjI9QGK1sELv60KqIVk

[6] Freedom of Information data obtained by Zurich from 36 and of 45 fire authorities in the UK. Data for 2022 collected to end of September.

[7] https://www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/safety/home-safety/bedtime-routine/

Further Resources:

• Understanding the Different Types and Uses of Fire Extinguishers
• What Does PASS Stand For? Fire Extinguisher Use and Safety
• Fire Safety Signs
• Fire Safety Courses

The post Report: Fire Safety in the Home appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

• PAT Testing for Home Workers
• A Guide to the Most Common Workplace Hazards
• Health and Safety in a Bakery: Free Checklist
• Working in Hot Weather: Legal Requirements, Guidance, and Tips
• Health and Safety Quiz
• Workplace Health and Safety Quiz for Employees
• Workplace First Aid Quiz
• Online Health & Safety Courses

The post Workplace Health & Safety Quiz appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Zig Zags Play & Party Area is an indoor soft play area based in Brierley Hill. We spoke to a Party Host, Emily Khan, about her recent experience involving a child who was visiting the play area.

“Straight away, I could tell something wasn’t right. There was no coughing, he was just arched over. Everyone was asking, ‘Are you okay? Are you okay?’ then I heard someone say, ‘Is he choking?’”

When a child at the soft play centre she worked at began to choke, Emily Khan, who had recently taken our Paediatric First Aid online training course, knew exactly what to do.

Watch our video below to hear Emily’s story:

Online Paediatric First Aid Training

Our Paediatric First Aid training course teaches those who work with infants or children how to deliver paediatric first aid assistance in an emergency. It covers a variety of fundamental first aid topics, including the law surrounding first aid, how to put children and infants into the recovery position, how to administer life-saving CPR, how to use defibrillators, and how to provide assistance for a variety of injuries and illnesses. 

If a child is choking, and can verbally respond, breathe, or cough then you should encourage them to cough to try and clear the blockage or try to spit out the object if it’s in their mouth.

If a child is severely choking, and they can’t cough the obstruction clear, you should:

• Rest their upper body forward on your forearm, with one hand supporting their chest.
• Then, use the heel of your other hand to give a maximum of five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades.
• After each of the blows, check to see if the obstruction has been removed from their mouth. Do not put your fingers in their mouth to try and locate any blockages, as this could cause you to accidentally push the object further down their throat.

High Speed Training was the very first training provider to be awarded the prestigious Skills for Health Quality Mark Digital, and the Paediatric First Aid training course is fully certified by the CPD and IIRSM.

Richard Anderson, Head of Content Production at High Speed Training, said: “Situations like this one really show why it is so important that everyone has some basic knowledge of first aid, especially if they are working with children or young people.

“The ability to keep a cool head and act quickly and decisively in an emergency citation is really key, and, if Emily hadn’t been able to confidently act in this instance, there could have been a very different outcome.”

You can find out more information about this course here. 

What to Read Next:

• How to Carry Out the Primary Survey Using the DRABC Steps
• How to Administer CPR: Guidelines & Steps
• Paediatric First Aid Quiz
• How to Support Individuals After Giving First Aid Assistance
• Paediatric First Aid Online Training Course

The post Paediatric First Aid Training in Practice – Saving a Child’s Life appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

• How to implement organisation wide training plans to ensure compliance with the English Football League (EFL) Safety certificate with remote working, multiple sites and busy schedules
• Achieve club-wide compliance to a strict deadline. Failure to meet compliance would have serious ramifications for the club

The Objectives

• Create a training schedule to get staff members complaint on a range of topics
• Enact a culture shift to promote positive views towards training, personal development and education

The Solution

• A program of online training that could be implemented club-wide, allowing learners to achieve compliance at their own pace and from any location
• A management system and dashboard that allows for reporting to governing bodies to demonstrate standards have been met

A Background on Leyton Orient Football Club

Leyton Orient Football Club is a professional football club based in Leyton, East London, England, who compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They are the second oldest football club in London to play at a professional level, having been founded in 1881.

We caught up with Neil Robinson, Head of Safety and Facilities at Leyton Orient, to find out more about how the club have used High Speed Training’s courses to upskill and empower their staff.

How Important is Staff Training and Safety at a Football Club Such As Leyton Orient?

Football clubs are very complex organisations, with a very diverse range of staff, teams and responsibilities, including maintenance, matchday and hospitality, commercial services, coaches and medical staff. With such a wide scope of business, identifying areas that need development and training can be challenging.

What Areas Did You Identify That Needed Training?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process of developing professional skills and knowledge through interactive, participation-based or independent learning. As many organisations are placing more of a focus on employee retention and building the careers of their staff, CPD is becoming more and more essential for employers.

How Important is Personal Development and Supporting Staff at Leyton Orient?

For organisations such as Leyton Orient, who have a large number of staff across multiple sites, including at training grounds, academy premises and at the club’s home stadium of Brisbane Road, organising in-person training across multiple teams can pose a real challenge.

What Were the Advantages of Using High Speed Training to Leyton Orient?

Take a look at our extensive library of courses or call a member of our friendly support team on 0333 006 7000 to see how we can help your organisation grow.

What to Read Next:

• How to Upskill Yourself
• What is CPD? A Guide to Continuing Professional Development
• Online Training Courses

The post Case Study: Raising Standards at Leyton Orient Football Club appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.